Awards Day 2016

Thank you to all the authors, illustrators, schools and publishers who made the 2016 KOALA Awards so enjoyable. A special thank you to our wonderful hosts at Blackheath Public School. You really helped make KOALA's 30th birthday a very special day.

Congratulations to the winners and honour books

Picture Books

Winner - Pig the Fibber by Aaron Blabey

Honour - The Stone Lion by Margaret Wild and Ritva Voutila

Honour - Thelma the Unicorn by Aaron Blabey

Fiction for Younger Readers

Winner - The Bad Guys: Episode 1 by Aaron Blabey

Honour - You Choose: Alien invaders from beyond the stars by George Ivanoff

Honour – Alice Miranda at Camp by Jacqueline Harvey

Fiction for Older Readers

Winner - The 65-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton

Honour - Ugly: A beaut story about one very ugly kid by Robert Hoge

Honour - Weirdo 5: Totally Weird! by Anh Do and Jules Faber

Fiction for Years 7-9

Winner - Soon by Morris Gleitzman

Honour - My Life as an Alphabet by Barry Jonsberg

Honour - The Last Thirteen #1 by James Phelan

Videos, photos and full report coming soon to our Awards Day and Facebook pages.

KOALA Timeline 2016

Term 1 - Students nominate their favourite Australian titles.

Term 2- Shortlists are announced. Students read books from the shortlists. Voting is open.Term 3 - VOTING CLOSES. Votes must be submitted by Friday 23rd September, 2016.Term 4 - Awards Day at Blackheath Public School on Thursday, 3rd November, 2016.

KOALA seeks to provide children a voice within the general Australian children’s book industry.

As a membership based non-profit organisation, we seek the support of schools and libraries across NSW in providing the financial resources necessary for this vital work. All NSW schools, public libraries, organisations and individuals can become Friends of KOALA.

"Of all the awards, the ones that kids choose themselves always mean the most. But they are also a great way to show kids that what THEY love is important." Jackie French

Our boys who attended were so excited and came back to school full of enthusiasm which they shared with the other boys in their classes. It was highlighted again yesterday how important and worthwhile organisations like KOALA are for the promotion of reading and literature for children. - Joanne Barnes, Librarian, Wyvern House